New York
Secure Storage in New York
Gun owners in New York are required to store guns securely in their homes and vehicles to prevent unauthorized access and theft.
To comply with state law, gun owners must do one of the following when their firearm is not under their immediate possession or control and they (a) live with a child under age 18, (b) live with an individual who is prohibited from possessing firearms, or (c) have reason to know that a child under age 16 is likely to gain access to the firearm:
- Store the firearm in a locked, tamper-resistant safe or other secure container that is capable of preventing an unauthorized person from gaining access, or
- Use a gun locking device that renders the firearm incapable of being fired.
In addition, if a gun owner leaves a firearm in an unattended vehicle they must remove the ammunition and securely lock the firearm in a safe or other secure container that is not visible from outside the vehicle. A glove compartment or glove box is not a sufficient secure storage option.
Gun owners may be subject to criminal penalties if they fail to follow these requirements. There are limited exceptions to the vehicle storage requirements for some law enforcement and military personnel.
Keeping Your Homes and Vehicles Safe with Secure Storage
If you’ve made the decision to bring a gun into your home, it’s important to know how responsible gun owners work to keep their families safe by mitigating the inherent risks associated with firearm ownership. Every responsible gun owner securely stores their guns so that they are inaccessible to children and other people who are at risk of harming themselves or others. Here’s why:
- More than 700 children die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member.
- Nearly 360 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else each year.
- At least one-third of youth gun suicides and unintentional deaths could be prevented with increased secure storage.
- More than 200,000 guns are stolen from individuals every year—a significant portion of those are stolen from cars.
Safety is always an adult responsibility. Kids will be kids, so it’s always an adult’s responsibility to keep children safe. Always assume that curious or impulsive kids may find and touch an unsecured gun, even if they’ve been told not to. If a child handles a gun, a bad decision can quickly become a fatal one. Be SMART adults protect kids by making sure all guns are stored securely, which means they are inaccessible to kids, and by making sure children are never in the presence of unsecured guns.
The information provided here is not legal advice and should not be understood as such. Consult with an attorney if you have questions about how this law applies to your specific circumstances.